Interview with Clark James Managing Director Paul Hulance

Franchise UK has asked MD of Clark James Recruitment, Paul Hulance, a bit about the Clark James business and how they have grown to become as successful as they are today.
About Clark James
Established in 2006 by two senior Directors of FTSE 100 Global Recruitment Consultancy, Clark James is a recognised and specialist provider of Recruitment Consultancy Services to a number of marketplaces within the UK and Europe.At Clark James, our approach is based on an in-depth knowledge of the markets in which we operate and a confidential and conceptual process based on an understanding of candidate and client requirements.
With offices and industry professionals across the UK, Clark James has developed forward thinking ideas, built strategy, grown in depth knowledge, and shared experience across the markets we serve and the territories we cover to ensure candidates and clients receive a professional service at all times.
Where are you located?Lincoln
Where did the idea for Clark James come from?Clark James simply is the maiden name and middle name of the directors Deborah and Paul Hulance who started the business in 2006 after successful directorships at a FTSE 100 recruitment business.
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?My day is very structured with a clear to do list ready and waiting on my desk when I arrive for work. Initially I like to make contact with key franchise partners in the group to discuss the days objectives, focus and any candidate and client issues. Additionally I always have a meeting with the head of accounts to discuss monies in and out and invoicing control. I also like to still be involved in the recruitment process with existing clients.
How do you bring ideas to life?I like to write things down and keep this visual at all times as a reminder. Not all of these things are good ideas and get crossed off after further thought but the good ones I pursue quickly, I don’t like to procrastinate.
What’s one trend that excites you?I try and be different and although there are trends in the recruitment sector of how to be successful, I like to think that our trend of being traditional and using the key tools of the trade are Clark James key trends. Email and social media are great tools but there is nothing as powerful as the art of telephone and face to face communication. The more people you meet and speak to the more business you will do.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?Structure to my day and setting a realistic objective and always be thinking about how to do better and improve.
What advice would you give your younger self?To follow your ambition as soon as you get the itch to do so, don’t delay, I started 4 years after first deciding I wanted to run my own business, I wish I had started before.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?Do the things that your good at, let others do the things your not good at!
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business? Please explain how.Recruiting the right people, not just people! This is really important.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?Placing too many eggs in one basket with one client for them to pull the plug on the project. This was overcome by very hard work and being incredibly proactive using the tools we had been left with.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers? (this should be an actual idea for a business, not business advice)How to be successful in recruitment.
What is the best £100 you recently spent? What and why? (personal or professional)Personal – a new pair of running trainers, I run every day and its my thinking time!Business – a bonus to an administrative member of staff for a particular project I asked them to undertake, we achieved some excellent results from this so I decided she warranted this.
What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive? How do you use it?Our recruitment database – it enables us to keep track of everything we do from anywhere in the world.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?Joe Wicks – Keep a healthy body and a healthy mind will follow enabling to you to focus on the things that are important to you.
What is your favorite quote?It doesn’t matter where you came from. All that matters is where you are going.”- Brian Tracy
Goals for 2018?To continue steady growth at Clark James staying true to our values and not trying to be a business we are not.

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